JP2783653B2 - Automatic leak detection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Purpose of the Invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention is directed to an output of a water leakage detection sensor installed in a water leakage detection unit such as a water supply pipe. The present invention relates to an improvement of an automatic water leakage detection device that detects water leakage and stores the determination result as leakage detection data in a storage circuit.

(Prior art) Leakage from distribution pipes and water supply pipes during distribution from a water treatment plant or a distribution reservoir to a customer has recently become more than ten percent of the total water distribution, and the loss due to this has been reduced to monetary value. in terms of, as 100 yen clean water cost per 1m ^3, reaches as high as about 200 billion yen per year. And to develop a new water source to make up for this leakage, even more enormous funding is required. Therefore, it is urgently necessary to quickly detect the occurrence of water leakage and control the amount of water leakage,
Most leaks occur underground and are difficult to find on the ground.

To solve this problem, in recent years, while paying attention to the fact that noise is primary and that water leakage noise has continuity, a sensor is installed in the water supply pipe in the household water meter box. After removing the output signal from the low level sensor that does not reach a certain size, a leak detection device that determines that there is a leak when the occupancy ratio is equal to or more than a reference value within a certain time has been used. .

FIG. 3 is an external view showing a connection state of this type of water leakage detection device. In FIG. 3, a water leak detection sensor (hereinafter simply abbreviated as a sensor) 4 including a vibration sensor or the like is provided on a water supply pipe 3 which is a leak detection part in a water meter box 2 provided with a water meter 1. Is attached, and the presence / absence of water leakage is determined by the water leakage detector body 5 based on the output signal from the sensor 4. Further, a handy terminal 6 is connected to the water leak detector main body 5 by an optical signal by an optical transmitter / receiver (not shown) in a timely manner, and the water leak detection data stored in the water leak detector main body 5 is taken out. 5
The current time and the water leak detection time zone can be set for.

On the other hand, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4, the main body 5 of the water leak detector is an optical / electric (hereinafter abbreviated as O / E) conversion circuit 7.
, An amplification circuit 8, a discrimination circuit 9, a display processing circuit 10,
Storage circuit 11 and central processing (hereinafter abbreviated as CPU) circuit 1
2, a transmission circuit 13, and a battery 14. Here, the amplifier circuit 8 amplifies an output signal (vibration signal) from the sensor 4. Further, the discrimination circuit 9 compares the output signal from the amplifier circuit 8 with a comparison reference voltage by a comparator, gives a logical AND (and) condition output of the output of the comparator and the basic clock to a counter, and outputs the logical product of the basic clock. At the rising edge, the output of the comparator is determined. If the output is "H" level, the output is output to the counter and the count value is incremented. Further, the display processing circuit 10 outputs and displays that there is water leakage by hardly determining that the count value in the discrimination circuit 9 is equal to or larger than the reference value.

On the other hand, the CPU circuit 12 reads the count value in the discrimination circuit 9, determines whether or not the count is equal to or greater than the reference value stored in the storage circuit 11, and uses the determination result as water leakage detection data in the storage circuit. 11 is stored. The transmission circuit 13 is for transmitting and receiving data to and from the handy terminal 6 as an external device via the O / E conversion circuit 7. Further, the O / E conversion circuit 7 always operates using the output of the battery 14 as a power supply, converts an optical signal (for example, infrared light) OPT transmitted via the optical transmission unit into an electric signal, and provides the electric signal to the transmission circuit 13. At the same time, it converts the electric signal from the traditional circuit 13 into an optical signal (for example, infrared light) OPT and gives it to the optical transmission means. Furthermore, the battery 14
Are the O / E conversion circuit 7, the amplification circuit 8, the discrimination circuit 9, the display processing circuit 10, the storage circuit 11, the CPU circuit 12, and the transmission circuit 13.
To supply power for operation. The leak detector main body 5 has a waterproof structure.

In such a water leakage detection device, normally, an output signal from the sensor 4 is input to the water leakage detector main body 5 and the amplification circuit 8
And input to the discrimination circuit 9. In the discrimination circuit 9,
An output signal from the amplifier circuit 8 is compared with a comparison reference voltage,
An AND condition output of the comparison output and the basic clock is supplied to the counter. Then, the output of the comparator is determined at the rise of the basic clock. If the output is at the “H” level, the output is output to the counter and the count value is incremented. When the count value is equal to or larger than the reference value, the display processing circuit 10 outputs and displays that water leakage has occurred. Also,
In the CPU circuit 12, the count value is read, and when the count value is equal to or larger than the reference value stored in the storage circuit 11, it is determined that there is water leakage, and the fact is stored in the storage circuit 11 together with the count value as water leakage detection data. Is done.

In this case, the water leak detector main body 5 can store the water leak detection data per unit time in the storage circuit 11. Therefore, the investigator confirms the occurrence of water leakage by looking at the display on the display processing circuit 10, and then connects the handy terminal 6, which is an external device, to the water leakage detector main body 5 through the 7O / E conversion circuit 7 using the optical signal OPT. , Water leak detection data stored in the storage circuit 11 of the water leak detector main body 5 can be extracted by the handy terminal 6 through the transmission circuit 13 and the O / E conversion circuit 7.

By the way, in such a water leak detection device, when the water leak detection is performed by installing the device in the water leak detection part, the handy terminal 6 is used before the installation, and at night, when the external noise is small, it is also required. A method of detecting a water leak by setting a water leak detection time zone in a time zone when the house does not use water (for example, 2:00 to 5:00 am). However, most of the water leak investigation areas are residential areas with little external noise even in the daytime, and it takes one day to investigate water leakage at one location, which increases the number of days and cost for the investigation. In addition, if it is found that there is no water leakage at the place where the water leakage is to be investigated, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the investigation and to find the leakage point early by immediately installing the equipment at the next investigation place and conducting the investigation. However, as described above, it takes too much time to investigate the water leakage, which is impossible.

In view of such a background, a water leak detection device including a measurement switch for starting the water leak measurement at an arbitrary time at which water leak detection is performed has recently been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-88935). That is, this type of water leak detection device displays the count value output from the discrimination circuit 9 on the display processing circuit 10 by performing the water leak measurement for a certain period of time from the time when the measurement switch is operated, and investigates the count value. This is read by a member to determine the presence or absence of water leakage.

However, in the water leakage detection device of this type, since the determination of the presence or absence of water leakage is based on the determination of the investigator, the determination result may be different due to a determination error or individual difference. Investigators must stare at the count value, so even if there is no water leakage, they must stay at one place for a certain period of time,
The work efficiency of water leakage survey is poor.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the conventional leak detection device, even if there is no leak, it is necessary to stay at one place for a certain period of time. However, there is a problem in that early detection of water leakage is hindered.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an extremely reliable automatic water leak detection device that can automatically determine the presence or absence of water leakage, and can significantly improve the work efficiency of water leakage investigation to detect water leakage early. It is in.

[Configuration of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a sensor for detecting water leakage installed in a water leak detection unit and presence / absence of water leakage are detected by an output signal from the sensor for detecting water leakage. In an automatic water leak detection device having a water leak detector for making a determination and storing the result of the determination as water leak detection data in a storage circuit, a measurement switch means for inputting a measurement start command
In response to the measurement start command input from the measurement switch means, each time the unit time elapses, the presence / absence of water leakage is determined by comparing the measured value per unit time in the output signal of the water leakage detection sensor with the reference value. Water leak determination means, means for setting a predetermined measurement operation time longer than the unit time from the measurement start command input time from the measurement switch means, and comparison means determining that there is no water leakage when a unit time has elapsed from the start time of the measurement operation time. Is performed at that time, the water leak-free output means for terminating the water leak presence / absence determination and displaying the water leak absence display to the display processing circuit, and each unit time from the start time to the end time of the measurement operation time has elapsed. If the comparing means makes a water leak determination at the time, a water leak output operation for displaying a water leak display to the display processing circuit at the end of the measurement operation time. It is equipped with a door.

(Operation) Therefore, in the automatic water leakage detection device of the present invention, the provision of the above-described means allows a measurement start command to be input when the measurement switch means is operated. Thereby, the water leakage measurement operation is performed for a predetermined time from the time when the measurement start command is input, and the measured value is displayed on the display processing circuit, and the measured value is equal to or more than the reference value stored in the storage circuit. Is determined. as a result,
If the measured value is less than the reference value, a display indicating that there is no water leakage is performed by the display processing circuit at that time, and by completing the water leakage measurement operation, the investigator can immediately determine whether there is no water leakage. It is possible to move to the investigation site of the above, and the work efficiency of the leakage inspection can be remarkably improved.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an automatic water leakage detection device according to the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Here, only different parts will be described. .

That is, in FIG. 1, a measurement switch 21 and a switch input circuit 24 are provided on the water leakage detector main body 20 in addition to FIG. Here, measurement switch 21
Is pushed by an investigator at an arbitrary time to perform water leak detection, to start water leak measurement. The switch circuit 24 has a function of transmitting a measurement start command to the CPU circuit 25 at the time when the measurement switch 21 is pressed.

Further, in the present embodiment, when a measurement start command is input from the switch input circuit 24, a water leakage measurement operation function of performing a water leakage measurement operation for a predetermined time, that is, a measurement operation time from that time, and a measurement by the water leakage measurement operation function Based on the value, it is determined whether or not there is water leakage within the measurement operation time. If it is determined that there is no water leakage, the water leakage measurement operation is terminated at that time and a display indicating that there is no water leakage is displayed on the display processing circuit 10. The CPU circuit 25 has a water leakage detection automatic end function.

Here, the measurement operation time is a time period (normally set to about 3 minutes) for how long after the measurement switch 21 is pressed to execute the water leakage measurement operation.
Is stored in advance in a ROM (read only memory).

Next, the operation of the automatic water leakage detection device configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, in the CPU circuit 25, when a measurement start command indicating that the measurement switch 21 has been pressed by the investigator is input from the switch input circuit 24, the water leakage measurement operation is performed during the measurement operation time from that time. The count value output from the discrimination circuit 9 is displayed on the display circuit 10 at regular intervals (for example, every 5 seconds) as a unit time, and the count value is stored in the storage circuit 11. It is compared with the reference value to determine whether there is no water leakage. Then, when the count value is determined to be less than the reference value, that is, when it is determined that there is no water leakage, the water leakage detection operation is terminated at that time and displayed even if the measurement operation time has not elapsed. The processing circuit 10 displays an indication of no water leakage. On the other hand, when it is determined that all the count values are equal to or greater than the reference value during the measurement operation time, it is determined that there is water leakage when the measurement operation time has elapsed, and the display processing circuit 10 indicates that there is water leakage. Is performed.

As a result, the investigator only needs to look at the result display indicating whether or not there was a water leak.Even if the user left the place and performed another operation during the water leak detection operation, the display processing circuit 10 Since it is sufficient to see only the result display indicating whether or not there is a water leak indicated by, the workability of the water leak investigation is further improved.

As described above, the automatic water leakage detection device of the present embodiment is operated by the investigator at any time to perform water leakage detection, and the measurement switch 21 for starting the measurement of water leakage,
When the measurement switch 21 is pressed, a switch circuit 24 having a function of sending a measurement start command to the CPU circuit 25 at that time is provided in the water leakage detector main body 20, and a measurement start command from the switch input circuit 24 is further provided. Is input, a water leakage measurement operation function for performing a water leakage measurement operation for a predetermined time, that is, a measurement operation time, from that time, and a determination as to whether or not there is water leakage within the measurement operation time based on the measurement value by the water leakage measurement operation function In this case, when it is determined that there is no water leakage, the water leakage measurement operation is terminated at that time, and the CPU circuit 25 is provided with a water leakage detection automatic ending function of displaying an indication of no water leakage to the display processing circuit 10. It is.

Therefore, when the investigator presses the measuring switch 21 at the time of installation of the apparatus, the presence or absence of water leakage can be automatically determined, and if there is no water leakage, the investigator can immediately determine that there is no water leakage. And move to the next location. As a result, it is possible to remarkably improve the work efficiency of the water leakage investigation and to detect the water leakage at an early stage.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the presence / absence of water leakage is automatically determined after the operation of the measurement switch means, and if there is no water leakage, the water leakage measurement operation is terminated at that point, and the investigator moves to the next investigation place. As a result, it is possible to provide an extremely reliable automatic water leak detection device that can automatically determine the presence or absence of water leakage and can significantly improve the work efficiency of water leakage investigation to detect water leakage early.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an automatic water leakage detection device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an external view showing a connection state of the water leakage detection device. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing details of the water leakage detection device in FIG. 1 ... water meter, 2 ... water box, 3 ... water supply pipe, 4 ...
Sensor, 5: Water leak detector main body, 6: Handy terminal, 7: O / E conversion circuit, 8: Amplifier circuit, 9:
Discrimination circuit, 10 Display processing circuit, 11 Storage circuit, 12
... CPU circuit, 13 ... transmission circuit, 14 ... battery, 20 ... leak detector body, 21 ... measurement switch, 24 ... switch input circuit, 25 ... CPU circuit.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A water leakage detection sensor installed in a water leakage detection section, and a water leakage which determines presence / absence of water leakage based on an output signal from the water leakage detection sensor and stores the determination result in a storage circuit as water leakage detection data. An automatic water leak detection device having a detector, wherein: a measurement switch means for inputting a measurement start command; and A water leak determining unit that compares a measured value per unit time in the output signal of the sensor with a reference value to determine whether or not there is water leak; and a predetermined time longer than the unit time from a measurement start command input time from the measurement switch unit. Means for setting a measuring operation time, and the comparing means makes a determination of no water leakage when the unit time has elapsed from the start time of the measuring operation time. In this case, when there is no water leakage output means for terminating the presence / absence of water leakage determination at the time and displaying the absence of water leakage to the display processing circuit, at the time when each unit time from the start time to the end time of the measurement operation time has elapsed And an output means for outputting a leak indication to the display processing circuit at the end of the measuring operation time when each of the comparing means makes a leak determination.